1To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 20 February 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to transmit the copy of a letter this moment received from Mr. Champagny, informing me that His Majesty the Emperor has directed the Embargo on American vessels in the Ports of France to be raised. With very high respect I am, Sir, your most obedient and very humble Servant, DNA : RG 59—DD—Diplomatic Despatches, France.
2To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 16 February 1809 (Madison Papers)
My last dispatch was dated on the 2d. of Jany. and for wants of more direct conveyance, was necessarily sent by the way of Holland and England. The Emperors return to Paris, which took place on the 22d. of Jany. was equally Sudden and unexpected, and is said to have been the consequence of the Success of his arms in Spain, and of the new uses he is likely to have for them in Germany. Of both...
3To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 2 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
After having dispatched my letter of the 12th. ulto. it Struck me that nothing would be lost, and that Something might be gained, were Mr. Short to take an early occasion of hinting to Count Romanzoff the advantage that would probably result as well to Europe as to the U S, could France be brought back to the ground She used to occupy with regard to the rights of neutral commerce. If the...
4To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 26 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
The Argus of to day, which I inclose, contains accounts of two revolutions, the one occurring in Constantinople, the other in Algiers. These accounts may be relied on. That with regard to Constantinople is confirmed by letters received by the Russian Minister of State, Romanzoff; and the other, which respects Algiers, is transcribed from Mr. Lear’s letter to me of the 21st. of last November....
5To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 14 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
The russian & french Couriers, who have just returned from England, bring a peremptory refusal from Great Britain, to negociate on the bases which have been offered. As this refusal can scarcely fail to produce new irritation on the part of the Emperor, so it may be expected to produce also a firmer adherence to his decrees. On the other hand the motives on the part of Russia to procure a...
6To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 12 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Dashkoff, Chargé d’affaires and Consul General of the Emperor of Russia, has arrived here and proposes to set out in about Six weeks for Washington. Having called upon me and expressed a hope, that he might be accomodated with a passage on board of one of the vessels employed by the United States in carrying dispatche s to and from Europe, I found it necessary to explain to him, the...
7From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 8 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a copy of a letter just received at this office from Messrs. Mathew Cobb & Asa Clerp, Merchants of Portland, and to request that you will take such steps in the case as may be best adapted to it. I have the honor to be &c DNA : RG 59—IM—Instructions to Ministers.
8To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 6 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
As the Union may be detained by westerly winds two or three days beyond the time set for her departure, I do myself the honor to forward herewith two numbers of the Argus containing the 10th. and 11th. Bulletins from the Army and the translation of a pamphlet, written and published by order of this Government (as is supposed) on the interest which Europe in general has, in the Success of the...
9To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 24 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor in a note of the 24th. ultimo to communicate the terms on which it was understood here, that a general pacification of European quarrels might be effected. Since the date of that communication an answer has been received from Great Britain expressive of a desire for peace, but declining to act on the propositions made to her, untill She had consulted her allies. The Emperor’s...
10To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 25 October 1808 (Madison Papers)
Hearing that the Charleston packet would not sail before the 1st. of November, I avail myself of that circumstance to add a few lines to those already sent by M. Roux. Such is the apparent persuasion on the side of Russia, that England will accept the terms recently offered to her by the two Emperors, that Genl Romanzoff has come on to Paris with the view, as is reported, of avoiding all...
11To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 24 October 1808 (Madison Papers)
In addition to the note by Mr. Roux I add that Couriers have been dispatched to London with overtures for a general peace. Their return is expected in the course of the present week. The bases of negotiation, reported to have been offered to England are 1o. Hanover to be restored to the King of England 2o. The Dutchy of Brunswick to be restored to the heirs of the late Duke 3o. Holland to be...
12To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 20 October 1808 (Madison Papers)
Meeting with Mr. Roux the bearer of this by accident I only have time to inform you, that the Emp. got back to this place yester day that the legislative body is to be convened on the 25th. instant, and that the moment they receive H. M.’s communications, he sets out for Bayonne & Spain. The prepa rations to subdue the latter are immense, and, under his own direction, nothing of them will be...
13From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 9 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
The St. Michael not having yet returned nor any late information received thro’ any other channel as to our relations with France, I can add nothing of importance to what was communicated on that subject by Mr. Baker. A private letter from Mr. Pinkney dated about ten days before the reported arrival of the St. Michael in England, expresses hopes founded on an interview with Mr. Canning, that...
14To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 8 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have this moment received Mr. Lear’s packets & forward them by express to Havre. It would appear from the direction given to the march of the guards, that the Emperor is going to Germany and it is said, for the purpose solely of an interview with Alexander & not with any hostile intention towards Austria. It is even added, that overtures to England for a peace will be the result of this...
15To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 30 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have been honored by the receit of your private letter of the 20th. of July. A letter of the same character from me to the President & which will be delivered by M. Wilder, will give you my opinion of the fitness of M. Warden for the consular office at Paris: to this therefore I refer. M. Skipwith may at any time obtain the documents he affects to seek & to want, from the C. of State. To...
16To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 28 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
Since my arrival at this place I have been honored by the receipt of your dispatch of the 21st. ultimo, and would immediately return to Paris to renew my discussions with M. de Champagny, ei ther personally, as you Suggest, or by writing, had I not the most solemn Conviction that any new experiment, made at the present moment in either form and of official character, would certainly be useless...
17To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 13 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have this moment recei ved a note from Paris of which, what f ollows, is a litteral translation: "The news from Spain, are very afflicting. Mo ncy has been defeated before Valentia and compelled to retreat. He re ached Madrid on the 21 of July with the loss of 13,000 Men. Dupont (w ho marched against Cadiz) after much hard fighting, has been fo rced to capitulate: in a word, the king has...
18To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 7 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
Joseph reached Madrid about the 20 Ulto. by forced marches, at the head of the . The Emperor continues to reinforce him. It was rumored two days ago, that war between this Country & Austria was unavoidable. To-day the papers announce, that Austria has procrastinated the blow, by ordering that her ports in the Adriatic b e shut against our commerce. It appears, that some vessels coming from Si...
19To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 7 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
I wrote a few lines to you yesterday. The arrival of this day’s mail from Bordeaux enables me to add what follows: "The Emperor said to our chamber of Commerce "que depuis que les Etats unis avaient mis un embargo, ils avaient cessé d’etre Neutres (that since the United States had placed an embargo, they had ceased to be Neutral)." The chamber having presented a petition for liberty to export...
20To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 31 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
The Court left Bayonne on the 26th & 28th. inst. The Emperor is expected at Nantes on the seventh of Augt. and at Rambouillet on the 13th. It is doubtful whether he will touch at Paris. If he should, I shall endeavor to draw from him an answer to the remonstrances I have, at different times, made since November last. These attempts shall however be so regulated as will most effectually prevent...
21To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 26 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
The dispatches herewith enclosed will inform you of the manner in which the two orders of the President, the one with regard to H. M’s proposition of the 3d. of feb. last, the other in relation to Mr. Champagny’s letter of the 15 of Jan., have been executed. To the latter of these, no answer has yet been received. It would have given me the highest pleasure to have drawn from this Government...
22To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 25 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have advanced to Mr. Baker Of public money (as per Receipt hereto appended) the sum of two thousand eight hundred and eighty francs. This advance is not perhaps entirely regular, but what could I do? I could not suffer a Messenger of the U. S. with a wife and three children, to starve in the streets of Paris. The first copy of the receit was sent by M. Livingston. I am with great respect,...
23To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 23 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
My last letter was dated on the 18th. Inst. I have now the honor of enclosing copies of two notes, the one from the Minister of foreign Affairs, the other from the Minister of Marine & Colonies. The former, relates to a commerce carried on, as is alledged, by American Vessels between the belligerents; the latter assigns the reasons why an embargo, now imposed on our vessels in the Ports of...
24From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 22 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
Your dispatches by Lt. Lewis were delivered on the 8th. inst. It is regretted that the interval between his arrival and the date of your letter to Mr. Champagny, during which I presume some verbal intercommunication must have taken place, had produced no indication of a favorable change in the views of the French Government with respect to its decrees; and still more that instead of an early...
25From James Madison to John Armstrong, Jr., 21 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
Herewith you will receive a copy of the papers relating to one of the vessels which were destroyed at sea by the French Frigates returning from the West Indies. I observe that in your letter to Mr. Champagny of the 2d. of April, you have incidentally noticed this occurrence. If ample reparation should not have been made to the sufferers, the President thinks it proper that as their cases...
26To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 18 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
I avail myself of the detention of the Arcturus, to transmit copies of two letters, which I have written to Mr. de Champagny; the one, in execution of the President’s orders with regard to the offensive terms employed by that Minister in his Note of the 15th. of January last; the other, demanding from him, on the part of his government, an avowal or disavowal of the conduct of Rear Admiral...
27To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 8 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
When I had the honor of writing to you on the 15th. inst I had received Mr. Champagnys letter of the 18th.; that of the 22d. came to hand a few days afterwards. You will no doubt perceive a difference in the temper of these notes. The former contained only concessions, which though in themselves of no great importance, shewed a friendly disposition. The latter on the other hand, would retract...
28To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 7 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
Conceiving the moment of Joseph’s accession to the crown of Spain to be one which might be favorably employed in Settling our long pending controversy with that crown, I hastened to address a Note, the copy of which is enclosed, to his Minister of foreign Relations. To this I received the answer of that Minister on the 8th. instant, a copy of which is also transmitted. With very high...
29To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 29 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
This has no object but to inform you, that I have advanced (of the money of the Public) the sum of two thousand eight hundred & eighty francs to John Martin Baker Messenger & agent of the U. S. and that I enclose his receit for the same. With very high Consideration I am, Sir, Your Most Obedient & very humble servant DNA : RG 59—DD—Diplomatic Despatches, France.
30To James Madison from John Armstrong, Jr., 27 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have this moment received the letter, of which the enclosed is a Copy, in answer to mine of the 10th. instant to M. de Champagny; and am Sir, with very high consideration, Your most obedient & very humble servant DNA : RG 59—DD—Diplomatic Despatches, France.